Chronic sinusitis can greatly diminish your quality of life. A blocked nose, painful headaches or post nasal drip can all have detrimental effects.
Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure designed to open and reshape sinus passageways without tissue removal, potentially helping reduce snoring and headaches in patients.
1. It’s Non-Surgical
Balloon Sinuplasty is a non-surgical sinus procedure that can significantly alleviate symptoms associated with chronic sinusitis, including facial pain, pressure, congestion and drainage. Our office offers this procedure under local anesthesia so patients can return to work and their regular activities the very next day.
Otolaryngologists (ears, nose and throat doctors) at our practice will use medical history information, nasal examination, CT scans and other diagnostic tools to pinpoint any blocked sinuses. Next, our doctors insert a catheter with an inflatable tiny balloon into the blocked area and use pressure from that balloon to reshape and open passageways before finally withdrawing both balloon and catheter from treatment.
Patients may experience bloody drainage for one to five days post-procedure; however, most feel relief of sinusitis symptoms shortly thereafter. You may also experience some minor discomfort which can easily be managed with over-the-counter medicines like acetaminophen.
While this procedure is best-known for relieving chronic sinusitis, it has also proven successful at relieving other airway-related ailments like snoring, nose and face pain, hay fever allergies, postnasal drip and nasal obstruction.
Balloon Sinuplasty is FDA-approved and widely considered minimally invasive by health care providers, making it a safe option for most adults. Furthermore, this procedure offers less expensive alternatives such as traditional surgery.
Most medical insurance plans cover this procedure; however, for more specifics on coverage options it’s wise to consult your own policy. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery has encouraged all insurance payers to cover this treatment option.
Those suffering from chronic sinusitis or other related conditions should contact us to schedule their initial consultation and find relief! Our team is prepared to discuss options available to them and help them breathe easier! We serve patients from throughout New York State as well as beyond; if unable to come directly, we offer remote care coordination using videoconferencing systems and other tools.
2. It’s Safe
Balloon Sinuplasty, or sinus dilation, is one of the safest forms of nose surgery used to treat chronic and recurrent sinus infections. Usually performed in an office environment under local anesthesia, a balloon catheter with a small balloon on one end is guided through your nasal passages and sinus cavities with an endoscope (a thin flexible tube equipped with light and camera on its tip), then slowly inflating and pressing against sinus walls until all passageways have been opened back up again by pressing against them while flushing with saline solution will restore normal drainage back into them and help them functioning normally again.
Balloon sinuplasty offers numerous advantages over functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). It is less invasive and usually has shorter recovery times; FESS requires doctors to cut away bone and tissue to enlarge sinus openings, while in balloon sinuplasty ENT doctors simply reposition bones – significantly reducing post-operative pain, bruising, swelling and bleeding and overall recovery times.
As with any surgical procedure, sinus ballooning carries some risks; however, these should not pose a major concern to most patients. The primary risk is infection; although occasional slight bleeding after the procedure may occur but usually this is manageable with over-the-counter medications.
Also a potential risk is sinus and nasal passage inflammation; if you experience significant sinus pressure or congestion after the procedure, please seek medical advice immediately. Finally, the procedure does not address polyps or tumors in the sinuses which may require further treatment; regardless of these risks however most patients who undergo balloon sinuplasty report that their symptoms improve within a week and remain free for up to one year post surgery – according to one recent study, 94% of chronic sinusitis sufferers who underwent balloon sinuplasty reported significantly reduced symptoms – please speak to your ENT physician about all its advantages!
3. It’s Effective
Balloon Sinuplasty is an effective solution for sinusitis, offering minimally-invasive surgery that has proven its ability to significantly enhance quality of life for its patients and bring immediate relief of symptoms following this procedure.
Sinusitis is a condition in which the sinus lining becomes inflamed, blocking normal mucus drainage from nasal passages and leading to infections and painful symptoms. Over time, inflammation may even cause scarring which further obstructs nasal passages; sometimes severe enough for traditional surgery to be necessary – thus necessitating assistance from an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist (ENT). To determine what options may exist and provide treatment plans.
Traditional sinus surgery was usually very invasive, involving incisions and removal of tissues or bone from your sinuses. Recovery times could take weeks. But thanks to balloon sinuplasty, that no longer has to be the case! This procedure is much less invasive and only requires local anesthesia for comfort during recovery – plus no nasal packing!
Also, laser sinus surgery provides several other advantages over other surgical sinus treatments, including reduced risks of infection, reduced bruising and swelling after surgery, decreased post-surgery nasal medications needed, faster recovery times as it can be performed in a doctor’s office rather than an operating room, as well as being performed without hospital admission and quicker postoperative recovery timeframes.
Your Houston ENT will start by applying topical anesthetics to numb your sinuses before using an endoscope to pinpoint the area in need of treatment. After they locate it, they’ll insert a catheter with balloon at its end into your sinuses and gradually inflate it until all passageways have opened up – when this has happened they’ll remove the balloon and use saline rinses to flush away any remaining debris or obstructions from your system.
After your procedure, your ENT will advise that you rest and refrain from any activities that might irritate the nasal passages. Expect some mild discomfort in your nose and nasal area that should be manageable with over-the-counter medication; additionally, continue regular saline rinses in order to maintain clear sinuses.
4. It’s Affordable
Chronic sinusitis can disrupt your daily life and be excruciatingly painful, interfering with daily tasks and leaving you suffering in silence. Balloon Sinuplasty (BSP), an outpatient minimally-invasive procedure using balloon catheters to widen sinus passages and improve mucus drainage, may offer relief without resorting to prescription drugs. BSP offers safe, noninvasive relief from symptoms associated with chronic sinusitis while decreasing their need.
Balloon Sinuplasty is a non-invasive procedure performed in the doctor’s office under sedation and takes only about an hour to complete. Patients often return to regular activities within days; conventional surgery typically requires cutting bone or tissue which then necessitates packing to control bleeding and discomfort, but with Balloon Sinuplasty there are no cuts made and it is much safer than endoscopic sinus surgery.
An endoscope is used to access the blocked sinus passage and a balloon is placed over it, then slowly inflated with air until opening of the sinus passage is complete. Once done, the balloon can be removed leaving an open nasal passage behind – with use of a saline rinse used by your doctor to flush away debris or mucus that has built up inside it.
BSP is one of the most cost-effective procedures available; many can easily afford it by using their insurance plan as payment. Your owed amount depends on which plan you select and how close you are to meeting your deductible amount.
Balloon sinuplasty offers long-term advantages that can drastically improve your quality of life. By eliminating sinus infections, sneezing attacks, and blocked nasal passages you’ll be free to work, play, and sleep comfortably again.
Are You Tired of Living with Chronic Sinitis? Talk to Your ENT Specialist About BSP Now. Our top sinus specialists will diagnose the source of your discomfort and suggest the appropriate treatments to provide relief. Request an appointment with Maryland ENT in Baltimore, MD; same-day appointments and most insurance plans accepted! Visit online now to discover more of our services.
